Damian Carrington's blog + Drones (military) | The Guardianhttp://www.theguardian.com/environment/damian-carrington-blog+world/drones
Indexen-gbGuardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2015Sun, 02 Aug 2015 22:50:13 GMT2015-08-02T22:50:13Zen-gbGuardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2015The Guardianhttp://assets.guim.co.uk/images/guardian-logo-rss.c45beb1bafa34b347ac333af2e6fe23f.pnghttp://www.theguardian.com
US military combines green and mean to fly drones on biofuels | Damian Carringtonhttp://www.theguardian.com/environment/damian-carrington-blog/2012/mar/15/biofuels-us-navy-drone
The US navy's aggressive plan to replace a third of its huge fuel use with biofuels has now seen the unmanned aircraft, as well as ships and supersonic aircraft, trial the fuels<p>The unmanned drones used by the US Navy to bomb its enemies without risking its pilots have been tested using a 50-50 mix of biofuel and regular jet fuel. The use of drones has become increasingly controversial, but that's a <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jan/30/deadly-drones-us-cowards-war">debate for another place</a>.</p><p>What's important here is that it is another sign that one of the most hard-headed outfits on Earth has realised that being green can help them be mean. Thomas Hicks, the deputy assistant secretary of state of the US Navy, puts it plainly. The navy's plan, to get a third of all its fuel from biofuels by 2020 &quot;increases our mission effectiveness and is better for the US economically.&quot; What he means is that using less fuel exposes the Navy's forces to less risk during resupply and that cutting reliance on imported oil increases security and could save money.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/damian-carrington-blog/2012/mar/15/biofuels-us-navy-drone">Continue reading...</a>EnvironmentBiofuelsUS national securityEnergyEnergy industryEnergyUS newsDrones (military)US militaryThu, 15 Mar 2012 08:00:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/environment/damian-carrington-blog/2012/mar/15/biofuels-us-navy-droneMC3 Stuart Phillips/U.S. NavyA BQM-74E aerial drone is launched from the USS Thach. The US Navy has flown drones using a 50-50 mix of biofuel and jet fuel. Photograph: MC3 Stuart Phillips/U.S. NavyMC3 Stuart Phillips/U.S. NavyA BQM-74E aerial drone is launched from the guided-missile frigate USS Thach (FFG 43) to simulate an incoming missile for a weapons firing exercise during the Atlantic phase of UNITAS 52 off the coast of Brazil. Photograph: MC3 Stuart Phillips/U.S. NavyDamian Carrington, Rotterdam2012-03-15T08:00:00Z